Electric glow-lamp.



'Patented Mar. 6,1900.

. .1. VAN vLEcK;

ELECTRIC GLOW LAMP.

3 Sheets-Shaet l.

(Application med may 9, 1899.)

mnuumunm 1+ Patented Mar. s, |900. J. VAN vLEcK. ELEGTBIC GLOW LA'MP.

(Application led May 9, 1899.)

3 Shasta-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

TH: Nonms frans co.. PHOTO-umu,wAsN|Na1oN,o.c.

No. 644,783. Patented Mar. 6, |900. J. VAN VLECK.

\ ELECTRIC GLDW LAMP.

(Application filed May 9, 1899.)

(No Modal.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l w/TNESSES.: r l /NVENTO/? Y BY/ a y y AArrow/EY we mams PETERS co., Novo-Lamo.. wAsNmmoN. D. c.

STATES PATENT GEEICEo JOHN vAN vLEoK, OE NEW YOARIQN. Y., AssieNoR ToCHRISTOPHER D.

sMITHERs, OF SAME PLAGE. y

ELECTRIC GLOW-LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 644,783, dated March6, 1900.

' Application filed May 9, 1899. Serial No. 716,134. (No model.)

T0 (L7/Z 10731/0777, may concer-11,:

Be it known that I, JOHN VAN VLECK, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ElectricGlow-Lamps, of which `the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of electric glow-lain ps in which thelight is emitted from a bod y of refractory material which at normaltemperatures is a non-conductor, but which upon being heated to acertain point becomes a conductor, and is thus rendered incandesf.`

cent by the passage of the current;

The Inode of organization offmy invention consists in combining withsuch a non-conducting body a device for heating the same by means of aHanne produced in proximity to said body and means for controlling thesupply to said Adame and for igniting the same, the said means beingconstructed and arranged so that when the said body is renderedconducting said supply shall be out off and circuit broken through theigniter.

My invention furtherconsists in the electromagnetic devices foraccomplishing the foregoing and their combinations and also the variousother novel features embodied, all as hereinafter more particularlypointed out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my lamp.Fig. 2 is a verp tical section with the inclosing case omitted,

and Fig. 3 is an electrical diagram showing the circuits in the lamp.

Similar letters and numbers of reference indicate like parts.

The term gloweig hereinafter used for brevity, means a body ofnon-conducting material which is raised in temperature by the heat-er,and thusv becomes a conductor and permits the passage of the electricalcurrent, which causes it to glow.

The term heater, hereinafter used, means a device whereby the glower,normally nonconducting, is elevated in temperature, so as to become aconductor of the electrical current.

The general arrangement of my lamp will be best understood by firstreferring to the electrical diagram, Fig. 3. d is aglower, here shown inthclform of a curved rod of suitable `tion of thespark at the terminalsc.

a pivoted leveradapted to make and break 'that magn etl `heats it.

refractory material, which maybe, :for exam--l ple, magnesia. The heaterisindicated at b and, as will hereinafter be described in detail, isembodied herein in a gas-burner,which emits a dame, which fiame impingesupon the glower a, and thus` raises said glower in temand also actuatesthe valve which admits gas'v to the burner to be ignited by that spark.The terminals to beseparated are indicated at p in Fig.` 3, and theelectromagnet which controls them and the valve is at d. At is aspark-coilor any other means of introducing suitable resistance to aidin the produccircuit at 71,. This lever carries the armature t' of theelectromagnet d and is controlled by Still referring to Fig. 3, the leadof the circuits is as follows: The wire e is connected to any suitablesource of electricity, and thence circuit proceeds. through thecontact-points at h by way of the conductor j to the coilV of theelectromagnet d, and thence by wire 7c to ground.l A branch connectswith wire j at Z, includes the spark-coil fand igniting-contacts at jo,and meets theground-wire m at n. The main circuit through e proceedsthrough the electromagnet-coil c, through the glower a, and connects.with the ground-wire m at o. The wire m instead of being grounded maybe a return to the source of electricity. The operation is then asfollows: The current established at e proceeds through the contacts ath, which are normally together, thence through wire j and coil 7c toground, thus energizing electromagnet d and causing it to attract itsarmature. Part of the current pro ceeds from Z through the spark-coilfand contacts p to ground. Vhen electromaguet d attracts its armature,as aforesaid, the contact-points p are separated and the gas-valve isopened.` The separation ot' contacts p produces a spark which ignitesthe escapinggas and the iiame, rising, meets the glower and As soon` asglower a is brought to the proper degree of temperature current may passfrom wire e through the coil c and through Atgis` IOO structionembodying my invention, 1L is a socket internally threaded and adaptedto be attached to the gas-pipe. From this socket extend downwardly twotubes 2 and 3. These tubes at their'lower ends communicate with aseparate tubular casting 4. The gasway 5 in said casting is surmountedby a Bunsen burnerwG, the air-apertures of which are shown at-7. Betweenthis burner and the casting4 is secured the valve-seat 8. 9is agas-valve conical at vits upper portion and entering said seat. The seatis tubular to yreceive a .rod 10,

secured to the gas-valve and preferably made spiral in form at its end,as shown. The end of this rod extends a lit-tle'above the top of theburner 6 and forms one electrode of the c ircuit-breakerp. The otherelectrode llis secured in a collar 12 on the exterior ofthe burner 6 andisinsulated therefrom, as shown. The electrode 11 is bent over, so asnormally to rest upon the tip ofthe rod-electrode 10. The electrode 1lis fixedin the collar 12. Sye- Vcured beneath the casting 4 is aninternallythreaded bracket 13. This bracket is threaded on its innerperiphery to receive the cupshaped piece 14, which has an inner tube l5,

through which tube the rod 9 extends and terminates below in a ring 16.The electromaglnet-coil'cl is placed in this cup-shaped piece 14 andsurrounds the inner tube 15 thereof. Within the cup-shaped piece 14 andabove the magnet-coil d is placed the armature 17.

This armature has a centralsleeve 18, of insulating material, throughwhich sleeve the valve 9'passes. The inner peripheryof the cup-shapedpiece 1,4 is flanged to receive the threaded flanged cover 19. Thesleeve 18 is flanged at its upper port-ion, and between the flange andthe cover 19 is interposed a spiral spring 20.

The tube 3 is preferably made in two parts@ .Between the union 2.1 landthe sleeve 22-on the tube 3 and preferj to receive a union 2l.

ably integral with said union and sleeve is a supporting-platform 23.The platform is secured by a suitable screw to the upright 24, to theupper end of which is pivoted 'the lever g, which carries the armaturet'. This armature is disposed above the core 25 of theelectromagnet-coil c. The coil and core are `secured to the platform 23by a' screw 26.

Also rising from the platform 23 is an vupright 27, which carriesthe-fixed or upper electrode 28 of the pair of contacts marked h in Fig.3. -The lower electrode 29 of this .pair

of contacts is secured to the armature-lever g.

The electrodes 28 and 29 are threaded and pass throughcorrespondingly-threaded sleeves 30 and 31,0f insulatingmaterial,inserted,respec tively, in the upright 27 and lever g. Theobject of threading the electrodes is to enable them to be adjusted withreference one to the other.V The upright 27 extends upward beyond theelectrodes, as shown at 32, and forms an arm, to which is secured theretracting-spring 33, which connects with the armature-lever g. Thespark-coil f is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2. On the lower sideof the platform 23 is secured in any suit.- able way asupport 34, ofinsulating material, through which extend wires 35, between which andbeneath the support extends the glower a.

I will now trace the circuit with reference to the parts detailed. Thewire e, being connected to any suitable source of electricity,

2l and thence to the upper electrode 28 of the pair h, thence to thelower electrode 29 when said electrodes are in eontact,andthence by wirej, which is in the. lower part of the tube 3, through a vertical opening36 in the casting 4 and the side openings in the bracket 13 and cup 15tothe coil d, and through that coil tothe return-wire m, or insteadofgoing to a return-wire y.m the circuit may end with .the cup 15,1iuwhichcase the current will proeeed through the tube 2 to the wire 37, whichisconne'cted thereto. The branch circuit from Zproceeds throughthespark-coil fandthenee byjthe wire 38 to the connecting-screw 39,*bywhich that wire is secured to the upper electrode 1l of the ignitingpair 2J. This wire in passing through the casting 4 traverses aninsulatingsleeve 40. The circuit also proceeds from the wire e by way ofthe wire 4l to the electromagnet c, and thence yto the glower a, andthence to the screw 42, to the upright 27, and so to the metal part ofthe xture, and thus to wire 37; or, if desired, a separate connectionfrom 42 may be carried directly to the return-wire m, the circuit ineither ease being completed.

The operation with reference to this construction is then as follows:The spring 33 ac` coil fby way of Wire 38 to the upper electrode 11ofthe ignitingpairp, thus to the lower electrode 10, andthen to theValve 9 and so to the metalpart of the apparatus, and

then by wire 37 to ground. Circuit is therefore establishedsimultaneously between kthe sparking-electrodes 10 and 11 and alsothrough the magnet d. The spark-electrodes are normally held in contactby the action of the spring 2O kbearing against the flange 18 and ,thecover 19, the effect being to raise the armature 17 andthe valve 9,which it incloses,

proceeds down rthrough the tube 3 to the union A that glower (t becomesa conductor.

Gas is therefore free to pass through the tube- 2 to the Bunsen burnerand to emerge from the tip thereof; but at the same time the electrodel0 is drawn away from the electrode Il, thus breaking circuit at thispoint and producing a spark between said electrodes, which spark ignitesthe escaping gas-current. The iiame then rises upward and meets theglower ct and heats the same up to the point where As soon as this stateof affairs is established the current from wire e. may proceed by wire4l to the electromagn et c,through the glower to pin 42, and so throughthe metal part of the ap- The electromagnet c then i paratus to wire 37.attracts its armature vi, pulling down the pivoted lever g andseparating the electrodes 2S and29, and that breaks the circuit throughthe igniting-electrodes.and through the electromagnet (l. The spring 2Otherefore is free to draw the armature 17 back to its original position,thus closing the valve 9 toits seat and shutting olf` the gassupply andputt-ing out the gas-flame and once more bringing theigniting-electrodes IO and ll into contact. The only remaining circuit,therefore,iwhich is closed iii-the apparatus proceeds through the glower(t, which is thus continuously rendered incandescent .and brightlyglows.

The platform 23 carries on its upperside a dome-shaped cover 43, whichis readily re-A movable and which serves to protect the Working partsbeneath it. carries a convex reiiector 44, th rough an opening in whichthe support 34 of the glower ct protrudes. In Fig. l I show sheet-metalcasings, one of which at 45 covers the lower part of the apparatusbeneath the heater and is securedin place by any suitable means. Theother, 46, covers the upper portion of the apparatus. Between these twocasings and surrounding the tubes 2 and 3 is interposedatubular envelop47, of glass, which is held between the casings 45 and 46. In the lowercasing 45 I make ventilating-openings 48, and in the upper casing 4Gsimilar Ventilatingopenings 49,so that an air-current may pass in at 48,rise through the envelop 47, and escape by the openings 49.

It will be noticed that the valve 9 may be drawn downward by means ofthe ring 16 on its lower end by hand. It may be operated in this way toopen the valve and separate the spark electrodes when desired. Thisguards against any possible failure of the heater to be operated by thecurrent, since it will be noticed that the circuit from thecontrolling-electromagnet c goes to screw 42 on On the underside it` theupright 27, and thus communicates directly with the ground. Hence if themechanism controlling the heater should for any cause be injured thevalve f) can be worked by hand to produce the desired iiamc. As soon asthe glower is heated the operation of the lamp will go on as usual. Ofcourse any kind of combustible gas may be used to supplythe Bunsenburner.

l. In an electric lamp, a glower, meansfor producing a flame to heat thesame and means for extinguishing said 'flame controlled by the currentestablished in said glower, substantially as described.

2. In an electric lamp, a glower, means for lished in said glowcr,substantially as described.

3. In an electric lamp, a glower, meansvfor producing a gas-name toheatthe same, and means for cutting off the gas-supply to said damecontrolled by the current established in sait'lglower, substantially asdescribed.

4. In an electric lamp, a glower, a source of gas-supply, a burnercommunicating with said source and producing a flame adapted to heatsaid glower and means for controlling the gas-supply'to said burnerthrough the cur'- rentin said glower,substautially as described.

5. In an electric lamp, a glower, means for producing a flame adapted toheat said glower and means for igniting said flame controlled by thecurrent in said glower, substantially as described.

6. In an electric lamp, a glower, a source of gas-supply,a burnercommunicating'with said source and producing a flame adapted to heat`said glower,` a valve controlling the gassupply to said burner and anigniter for said burner; the said valve and the said igniter beingcontrolled by the current in said glower, substantially as described. 1

7. In an electric lamp, a glower, means for producing a flame to heatthe same, an electromagnetic device for controlling the ignition of saidame, and the supply of combustible thereto, and means for controllingsaid electromagnetic device actuated by the cur` rent established insaid glower, substantially as described.

8. In an electric lamp, a glower, an electromagnet in circuit therewith,a circuit-breaker controlled by said electromagnet, means forestablishing and cutting off the heat-supply to said heateiganelectromagnet controlling said means and circuit connections; wherebywhen said last-named electromagnet shall be energized it shall operatesaid means to es tablish the heat-supply to said heater, and thereafterwhen said glower shall by said heater have been rendered electricallyconducting, said first-named magnet shall operate said circuit-breakerto cut out said last- IIO ing-flame in proximity to said glower, sep-4arable electrodes disposed at the outlet of said burner, means forcutting said electrodes out of circuit, means for separating andbringing together said electrodes and circuit conneet-ions; whereby whenthe actuating-cur rent is established, said means for separating saidelectrodes shall operate to draw them apart and produce anigniting-spark at the burner and thereafter when the flame shall haverendered said glower electrically conducting said means shall operate tobring said electrodes into contact, substantially as described.

10. In an electric lamp, a glower, a gasburner communicating with asource of gassupply, va valve for said burner, an electromagnetic devicecontrolling said valve, a circuit-breaker in circuit With saidelectromagnetic device, an electromagnetic device in circuit with saidglower and controlling said circuit A- breaker and circuit connections;

whereby when said valve-controlling electromagnetic device is energizedit shall open said valve to admit gas to said burner to produce aheating-flame for said glower, and thereafter when said glower shallhave been rendered electrically conducting said lastnamedelectromagnetic deviceshall operate said circuit-breaker to denergizesaid valvecontrolling device and thereby control said valve to shut oft'the gas-supply, substantially .as described.

supply of gas to said burner, an electromag-- net d controlling saidvalve andin shunt-circuit with said glower and a circuitbreaker h insaid shunt controlled by said electromagnet c, substantially asdescribed.

v 13. In an electric lamp having a burner communicating with a source ofgas-supply, .the combination of the glower c and electro` magnet c incircuit, an electric igniter disposed at the burner-outlet, anelectromagnet cl controlling said igniter in shunt-circuit with saidglower, and a circuit-,breaker h insaidk shunt controlled by saidelectromagnet c, substantially as described.

14. In anelectric lamp having a burner communicating with a source ofgas-supply the combination of the glower ot, electromagnet o, a valve 9controlling the supply of gas to said-burner, a fixed electrode 11 atthe burner-outlet a movable electrode 10 carried lby said valve, anelectromagnet d controlling said.valve,a circuit-breaker h controlled byelectromagnet c and circuit connections,sub stantially as described.

15. In an electriclamp having a glower, a

burnerv communicating .with a source of gassupply and adapted to producea heatingfiame for said glower, a valve in said burner and means forelectrically actuating said valve and thereby establishing a supply ofgas to the heating-flame, and means controlled by said glower forthrowing the electrical actuating mechanism of said valve out of.'operation after said glower by said flame shall have been renderedelectrically cond ucting,` substantially as described.

JOHN VAN VLECK.

Witnesses:

Jos. WILLIAMS, 1-1. R. MoLLER.

